Evaluation of Keratoconus Disease with Tear Cytokine and Chemokine Levels Before and After Corneal Cross-Linking Treatment

Acar Eser N., DİKMETAŞ Ö., KOCABEYOĞLU S., TAN Ç., Irkec M.

Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, cilt.32, sa.3, ss.269-275, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 32 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/09273948.2023.2165950
  • Dergi Adı: Ocular Immunology and Inflammation
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.269-275
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Chemokines, collagen cross-linking, cornea, cytokines, inflammation, keratoconus
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Objectives: To compare tear cytokine and chemokine levels of keratoconus (KC) patients with controls to perceive etiology distinctly and to clarify the molecular changes after cross-linking (CXL). Methods: Tear samples were gathered from 34 participants in this prospective study. Participants underwent anterior and posterior segment examinations with slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Patients were assessed by corneal topography before and 3 months after CXL. Flat (K1), steep (K2), and average keratometry (Kmean), cylinder (CYL), and central corneal thickness (CCT) values were evaluated. After 3 months from CXL, samples were re-collected, and comparisons were made with preoperative values. Results: Levels of IFN-gamma, IL-8, IL-12, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-13 were detected higher in KC patients (p= 0.008, p= 0.047, p= 0.001, p= 0.001, p= 0.001, p= 0.001, p= 0.027, respectively). After CXL IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, TNF-α levels showed significant decrease (p= 0.005, p= 0.045, p= 0.010, p= 0.022, p= 0.001, p=0.002, respectively). As for the topographic measurements, postoperative CCT values were increased whereas Kmean reduced after CXL (p < 0.001, p = 0.015, respectively). (p= 0.001, p= 0.027, respectively).Conclusion:Our findings imply that inflammation plays a key role in the development of KC and that this link is influenced by CXL therapy.